Memory Care in Mesa | The Summit at Sundland Springs
Developing dementia brings many changes to a person’s life. It can have an emotional, social, and psychological impact on a person. Many sufferers describe these impacts as a series of losses, and adjusting to them is challenging.
Suppose you’re a family member or friend of a person with dementia. In that case, you can help and support them in their everyday life and activities. The first step is to understand better what it is like to have dementia. Once we know, we can look at ways to better support someone who lives with the condition.
What are the Effects of Dementia?
Most people experience memory loss and difficulty problem-solving. However, there are many secondary risk factors for dementia, such as:
- Lowered self-esteem
- Loss in confidence
- Loss of independence and autonomy
- Social roles and relationships change
- Inability to carry out favorite activities or hobbies
- Difficulty with everyday skills of daily life
Despite all these things being lost, each person in memory care can still retain some of their abilities. There are many factors aside from the symptoms of dementia that play a massive role in shaping a person’s experience. This includes the relationships the person has, their environment, and the support they receive.
Meet Them at Their Level
Personal relationships and social environment are central to life in a memory care community, regardless of age or mental ability. Carers, friends, and family can be as supportive as possible by helping people with dementia feel valued and included. Support should be unique to the individual and focus on promoting well-being and meeting their specific needs.
When supporting a person with dementia, it is helpful to understand the condition’s impact on that person. Understanding how the person thinks and feels will affect how they behave.
For example, they may be experiencing a completely different world from those around them. Carers must offer support while trying to see things from another perspective.
Each person is unique, with their life history, personality, likes, and dislikes. It is crucial to focus on what the person still does have, not on what they may have lost. In dementia care, it is essential to focus on what the person feels rather than what they remember.
Read below for the 4 different ways you can support your loved one in memory care.
#1 Communicate with a person living in memory care
You can help support a person living with dementia by using good communication. Good communication can help increase their understanding and well-being.
- Speak clearly and slowly, using short sentences
- Make eye contact when they’re talking
- Give them time to respond
- Please encourage them to join in conversations with others
- Let them speak for themselves during discussions about their welfare or health.
- Do not patronize them.
#2 Listen to a person living in memory care.
Actively listening can help improve communication between you and your loved one. Active listening includes:
- Using eye contact and encouraging them to look at you while speaking
- Do not interrupt them, even if you think you know what they’re saying
- Please give them your full attention while they speak
- Minimizing distractions during communication
- Repeating what you heard back to the person and asking if it is accurate
#3 Support them daily.
There are different ways to support your loved one in their day-to-day life. You can help them by:
- remembering they are still the person and friend you’ve known for a long time
- including them in group conversations
- asking them their opinion or what they want
- offering your support, they may lack the confidence to approach you
- being sensitive, understanding, and supporting their approach to living with dementia
- remembering they can still do the same things as you but may need a little help
#4 Social Life is Crucial
People with dementia must continue to enjoy hobbies and interests as much as possible.
Offer support by including them in social activities and events. Please encourage them to join in the conversation and engage in enjoyable activities.
Come Visit Memory Care in Mesa
At The Summit at Sunland Springs in Mesa, Arizona, we provide a fantastic senior care community for your loved ones with memory problems and dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and mixed dementia (vascular dementia and Lewy body disease). Our specially trained staff understands memory care and provides the perfect level of care for your loved one.
Being diagnosed with memory-related illnesses takes a significant toll on everyone involved. Here at The Summit at Sunland Springs, we take memory care seriously and work to make our residents’ lives whole so that they can thrive.